Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-25
STILL, THEY COME.
Another Fine Diocesan Building
to be Erected by the CathO-
lies Of Wichita.
A Review Of What has Been Done and
Some Things That viii be Done
This Year by the Catholics
of Wichita.

The Catholic church Of Wichita, through
is interchangeable rector, Rev. II. j. Casey
assisted 6y his able and energetic consUlta
ton committee has achieved wonders dur
ing the past year, and as will be seen further
on. are dete Imined TO add fresh laurels dur
ing the year 1887.
Rev. II j. Casey, the present rector OF st
AIoysius' church, took charge of this parish
Nov. /. 1885, not quite fifteen months ago.
He found here an empty treasury, a debt OF
over $sC0, an old, diiapidated frame church,
wi;h a seating capacity Of about 100 a
It one foundation Of what IS Tow one OF the
finest church buildings in the state, stood
upon the southeast corner OF Fourth ave
nue. and First street Ii had been built
nearly two years, ard lay there in sun
and rain without brick upon the
foundation. The prospect was indeed DIS
coGragiree. The congregation was far from
Insignificant IN numbers, but they were moi
rich. The material was here cut of which a
fuc congregation might be bulk, hut the
task would have appalled, less courageous
and energetic worker tlan Father Casey. 4
total stranger, lie began his labors and what
is the result today? He has one OF the finest
brick churches in the state of Kansas, that
when entirely complete with stone altar,
furnaces. frescoing and all, will cost not far
from $1,000 One wing Of an academy for
the Sisters Of Charity, is under roof, and the
main building, together with the other wing,
the whole cost when fully completed, not
less than $50 O00-wiIl be built the present
year. The church does not owe dollar, and
there is upwards Of $4,000 in tie treasury.
But this is not all. The parish, which is TO
be, probably inside Of two months, the
heada .artels Of new diocese Of the church
in Kansas. owns 1926 ,GO0 worth Of real
estate, in and around the city. Father
Casey, nor tie Catholics OF Wichita, attrib-
utes this extraordinary success to the Cath
olics alone, but Jointly with the broad and
liberal citizens OF this city irrespective of
sectarian affiliations. 1t is great work, but
as was intimated at the beginning of this
article, the work continues with a new i'm
petus.
IL IdN Btt4i aSCti Idiiitti tLiC lttS Dui4tiItiso
committee have projected, and arranged all
the details for erecting another diocesant
building this year, and propose to go about
i at once There is little doubt that it will
be located where on the West Side, but
the exact location has not been designated
nor viii it he for probably q week. The
usual plan of securing donations, that has
been adopted 10y all institutions Of that ma
tule here, will no doubt be followed It is a
legit innate business transaction, and works
Tor the benefit Of all concerned. Il is the
r9.le IN the state, and is also the rule in the
west and is popular.
/, is stated on the best authority that com
bina.ions Of gentlemen owning property in
TWO different sections, proposed as suitable
for the institution, are already formed fer
the purpose of capturing the prize. One
man proposes 20 give fifteen acres and s., GJC,
others in that section VIII chip in and then
agaiu it is said Of another section that very
fine land donation will he made up by the
combination and that they will get it, How
ever this may be the 10 tier will tie settled
early next month AMI work viii begin prob
ably in March,
It appears plain enough that all the fine
buildings and institutions of the diocese will
cluster around tbs academy addition or near
it. II ordi.ary cities the number and ex-
cellence Of the diocesan buildings go a long
way towards building up the fortunate city
that secures them, but if they are many and
grand in ordinary cities, what viii they be
in Wichita? And the boom bOOms.